Vehicle direction-indicator.



I; A. .GOODWIN. VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 17. 1915- m 6 m M w v vvv 1 J a L 2 7 M m 4 F... v m mu m 9 F P 1. epdnwm. VEHICLE nmscnoummcnon; APPLICATION FI-LED MAR. I7. I915.

- Patented July 31, 1917.-

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 l. A. GOODWIN.

VEHICLE DIRECTION INDICATOR. APPLICATION man mm. 11. 1915.

1,234,75 1 Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. GOODWIN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

VEHICLE DIRECTION-INDICATOIB.

T (IZZ whom it concern Q' Be it known that I, JAMES'A. GOODWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis and State offllissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Direction-Indicators "and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such .as will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap'pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in direction indicating devices for automobiles and other vehicles or means of transportation, and has for one of its objects to provide asimple and reliable device that may be readil 1 attached to any automobile or other vehic e and will operate effectively to signal to approaching vehicles and pedestrians the direction that the vehicle is to pursue.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel electrical means to operate a semaphore signaling arm, said means including magnets and an electric circuit therefor and being controlled by suitable switches or push buttons mounted upon the steering wheel of the vehicle or in any other position suitable and convenient, whereby the driver or other occupant may easily operate the signal. v

Anotherobject is to generally nnprove and simplify the construction of direction indicating devices for automobiles and other vehicles so as to render them more practical, reliable and efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture and mamtain in operation.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specificationianu then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

lVith reference to the drawlngs wherein I have illustrated the preferred ,embodiment of mv' invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a rear VIEW of my ndicatmg device, the upper half of which is an elevation. while the lower half is a vertical sectional view taken aflong the line 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side view, thelupper half of Specification of Letters Patent.-

. a reduced scale,

' ton.

which iis a. vertical sectional View taken along l1ne'22 of Fig. 1, while the lower half 1s an elevation.

Patented July 31, 1917. Application filed March 17, 1915. Serial llTo. 15,128. I

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of' my device on.

appearance of my device which willbe mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspectiveviw of the indicating arrow as used on the signal mounted in front of the vehicle.

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of an automobile, showing my indicating means attached thereto.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show details of the movable magnet system of my device, Fig. 6 be.- inga front el'evation,Fig. 7,-a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. '6,

while Fig. 8 is a rear elevation.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show details of a switch for properly controlling the electrical circuit to secure the desired movements of the indicating arrows. Fig. 9 being a front elevation, Fig.'l0 being a vertical section taken at line 44 of Fig. 11, while Fig. 11 is a rear elevation.

Figs. 12 and 13; are diagrammatic views, showing the device connected for operation at both ends of a vehicle with an-electrical circuit, Fig. 12 illustrates the connections using'the' type of switch shown in Figs.9, 10 and 11, while Fig. 13 shows the connections using a two-way switch or push but- Referring to the drawings by characters of reference A designates as an entirety an. automobile and B and C my improved indicating or signaling device arranged at the rear and front of the automobile.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the construction and shows the general- Nuts 7 securely hold arrow 6 so that it will turn upon rotation of shaft 5.

. Secured interiorly of the casingl and pro-' jecting toward the center thereof from equi distant points is a plurality of cylindrical metallic lugs or projections 8 which form the cores for electromagnets 9, 10,11 and 12., Cores 8 may be round, square or rectangular in shape and may be cast integral with the casing 1 or secured thereto by.

means of screws 13 or other suitable means of fastening. Pole pieces ll protect the coils of the elect-ro-magnets and properly distribute the magnetic flux to secure the most satisfactory operation of the devlce.

These "pole pieces 14 may be cast integral. .with the cores 8 or else secured thereto by screws 15 or other suitable fastening means.

Mounted upon shaft 5 and secured thereto by screws 16, or other suitable means of lists 19 and?!) protected by polepieces 21,

which are ei .er cast integral with the cores 18 or else are secured thereto by screws 22'. i

Mounted upon thebutside cover 3, is a disk 23 upon which are painted in large letters the words. Forward, Right, Stop and Left, or other suitable words, letters 1 orcharacters as shown, to which indicating arrow 6 points. If desired the disk 23 may be omitted and the words painted directly upon the vehicle.

Secured to armature a disk 25, upon the circumference of which are cut-notches 27.. A pin 28 bears upon the circumference of the disk and as the disk revolves due to the action of the electro-magnets, engages in these notches, thus holding the indicator arrow 6' directly in line with one of the words painted on disk 23, even after the current is cut off from the electro-magnets. Pin 28- moves up and down in an opening in lug 29 cast upon the inside of cover 3. A spring 30 is positioned in the opening behind the pin 28 and may be adjusted by a screw 31. It is evident that the notched disk 25 and its cooperating parts may be located entirely outside of. the covers'B and 3 if desired.

Supports are provided for securing the device to the vehicle. 33 is provided through which the necessary electrical conducting wires enter. If desired covers 2 and- 3 can be provided with ventilation holes 3a and suitable bearings '35 and oil holes 36 are provided to secure proper lubrication. Arrow 37 replaces arrow 6, onthe front signaling device 0, and carries an angular apertured ear 3'? secured to the shaft 5 of the front operating device. On one side of the arrow 37 is printed the word Left as shown, while on the opposite side is printed the word Right or other sultable words or characters as desired. In this way when the arrow points toward the left 18 which" are. cast integral Insulating bushing the word Left is exposed and when it points toward the right the 'word Right is exposed. I

In order to secure the most'satisfactory operation of my signaling device, I have provided a special controller type switch illustrated in detail in. Figs. 9, 10 and 11.

This consists of plate 38 of-insulating materlal as porcelain, fiber, or. the like, into which is cast a pin or pivot 39, having a reduced end to receive arm 40 and provided.

with nut 41m secure arm 40 in position.

Handle 42 fastened to the arm 40 forms a convenient means of'turning or operating .the switch and the pointer 4C3 in'con unc tion with the words Forward, Stop, Right,

and Left or other suitable words,- lettersor characters printed or raised on plate 38 indicates the positions of the indicating arrows 6 and 37 of the signaling de ices B and C. Relatively stationary plates 45, 46,

1 47, 48 and i9 form'contacts upon which the movable contact plate strip50 is slidable. A wire from the source of electrical'energy is connected ,to the movable plate 50 by means of screw 51, and each of the two electrical connection is established between the various coils of the electro-magnets in the slgnalmg device and the source of elec- 'trical energy.

7 The movable contact plate 50 is insulated from the arm 40 by insulating strip 53- and secured to arm 40 by screws 5% which are I insulated by insulating bushings 55 and insulating washers 56. A lug 57 is provided to prevent turning the handle 42 completely around which would cause the signaling "arrow to turn completely around, which would not be desirable or possible with the front signaling device G and which-would break the'connecting wires in the case of rear device B unless collector rings were provided to provide the electrical connection between the coils of the device and the switch and source of electrical energy. The various electrical connection wires from the various contacts in this switch pass out through hole 58 in lug 5? to connect to the signaling devices and source of electrical energy. 4 V

In order to prevent the use of current after the signal arrows 6 and 37 have reached the desired positions, spaces 59, are I provided between the different stationary.

contact plates 45, 4:6, 47, 48 and 49 of each pair. In order to cause the handle 42 to always remain in these neutral 'positions' when placed there by hand, pin 60 is provided which moves against the circumference of plate 38 and moves into the notches to their desired positions, the plate 25 and,

pin 28 serving to retain the armature l7 and arrowsin adjusted position. I

This controlling switch is mounted in any convenient location preferably on the steer-- ing wheel of the Fig. 5. c

Fig. 12 shows the necessary connections automobile, as shown in for the operation of my signaling device.

In thepresent instance, coils 19 are shown as positive while coils 20 are negative, coils 9, 10, 11 and 12 are all negative. In front signaling device C coil 9 is replaced by two coils 64 and 65, which are both negative and connected as shown and. no coil is provided at 66, as there is no stop position for the front indicator. 67 represents the source of electrical current which may be a primary battery, storage battery, magneto, dynamo,

etc., in this case a primary battery being shown. To throw the signaling arrows in the forward position, coils 9, 19 and 20 are energized in rear signaling device B and coils 19, 20 and 64 in the front device C, negative coils 9 and 64 attract to them positive coils 19, thus moving the arrows to the forward positions. coils 10, when energized, will cause the signaling arrows to move to the right positions, while coils 12 will direct the signahng arrows to the left positions. To move the arrows to the stop position, coils 11, 19, and 20 of the rear signaling device B and coils 19, 20 and of the front device C are energized, positive coil 19 will be attracted to negative coil 11 in therear device B, thus placing the signaling arrow 6 in the stop position. In the front device C negative coil 65 will attract to it positive coil 19 throwing the signaling arrow 37 to 'the forward position. This is desirable as a stop pos1t10n is not necessary in the front of the vehicle, and also due to its possible location, in front of the radiator of an automobile, it would be impossible for the arrow to swing around to the rear.

Conductor 68 connects one side ofthe battery 67 to arm 40 of the controller switch, While conductors 69 and 70 connect the opposite side of the battery to the coils 19 and 20 of the two devices B and C, respectively.

Contact plates 45 are connected with coils 9 and 64 of the two devices B and C by conductors 71 and 72 respectively, contact plates 46. connect W'ithconduc'tor 73, which latter connects to coils 10 of both devices B and C by means of conductors 74 and 75 respectively. Contact plates 47 connect with coil 11 of the device B by means of conductor 76, and. conductors 78 and 79 from In the same manner contact plates 48, conductor 80 connects contact plates 49 to coil 65 of front signaling device C, conductors 81 and 82 connect coils 9, 10, 11 and 12 to coils 19 and 20 in device B, and connect coils 1'0, 12, 64 and 65 to coils 19 and 20 in device Thus it will be seen if arm 40' is in contact with contact "plate 45,the path of the current through device B will be as follows: from source'of electrical energy67, through conductor 69, coils 19 and 20, conductors 82 and 81, coil 9, conductor 71, contact plate 45, arm 40, and conductor 68 back to source 67. Through device C, the path will be as follows :from source 67, through conductor 70, coils 19 and 20, conductors 82 and 81, coil 64, conductor 72, contact plate 45, arm 40 and conductor 68 back to source 67. Thus positive coils 19-will be attracted to negative coils 9 causing indicating arrows to point to the forward positions. In the same manner all the other positions of the controller switch may be easily traced.

Fig. 13 shows the connections for a 1nodi-,

fied form of my device. In this case, there I are but three positions of the indicating arrow: namely, right forward and left. Counterweights or springs hold the indicator arrows always in-the forward position when the coils are not energized, Switch 83 is provided for regulating the position of the arrows. If pushed to the right contact, the arrows will point to the right and vice versa. Conductor 85 connects the blade of switch 83 to one side of source of electrical current 84, while conductor 94 connects the opposite side to coils 92 and 93.

The right contact of switch 83 isconnected current flows as follows :from battery 84.

through conductor 94, coils 92 and 93, con

ductor 98, coils 88 and 89, conductor 8 1' switch 83, and conductor 85 back to 84. Coils 89 and 93 are thus energized andare negative, while coils-88 and 92 are cnere-rv gized and are positive. Coils 89 will attract j tothem coils 92 and coils 88 will attract to them coils 93, thus throwing indicator 'arrows to the right.

With switch 83 on the left contact, the current flows as follows :from battery 84 through conductor 94, coils 92 and 93, conductor 98, coils 90 and 91, conductor 87, switch 83 and conductor 85 back to battery 84. Coils 90 and 92 are thus energized and are positive, while coils 91 and 93 are energized and are negative. Coils 90 will attract-to them coils" 93 and coils 91 will at- 130%,

battery. 115

tract to them coils 92, thus throwing the indicator arrows to the left.

In place of switch 83, push buttons or a controller switch similar to that shown in.

Fig. 12 may be used. It is also evident that the coils and indicators, as units, 'may be connected in series or parallel or a combination of the two without changing the general idea and intent of my invention. The number and spacing of the magnets and the extent of rotational movement of the indicating arrows may also be varied to suit condi tions. If desired collector rings with the necessary brushes may be provided on the shaft 5, to provide the electrical connection between the armature and the stationary coils. and other connections, in place of using flexible wire connections. It is also evident that only one coil, as coil 19, may be usedon the armature if desired. 7

It will thus be seen that I have provided two signaling devices on the vehicle, in the front one of which G, the signaling arrow swings in a horizontal plane, while in the ably electric lamps 95, with reflectors or hoods 96, above each signaling device on the automobile. However, it is evident that the tail light and headlights couldbe suitably arranged to properly illuminate the semaphore indicating arrows.

In practice, I find that the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the condition'sconcurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when It will be required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of. my invention, as set forth. Furtherinore, the devices may be made to indicate any number of positions, as stop and forward, or right, left and forward,- or right, left, stop, and forward, etc.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle direction indicator comprising a casing, a shaft journaled in apair of opposite walls of said casing and having one end projecting beyond one of the walls, a

signaling arrow secured to said shaft, shaft operating means within the casing, a disk having notches in its edge and secured to said shaft, a lug formed on the inner side of one of said opposedwalls, a pin movable in said lug for an engagement with one of said notches to hold the arrow in the position to -which it has been moved, and a spring carried by said lug and engaging said pin. 2. A vehicle direction indicator comprismg a casing having a pair of side walls,

bearings formed on the side walls and at a point centrally. thereof, said bearings being disposed upon the interior and exterior of the casing, a circular disk secured to one wall of the casing and having a central opening tov receive the exterior portion of one of the bearings, said disk having direction mdlcatlng characters thereon and arranged in circular formation, ashaft journaled in said bearings ofthe opposed walls of the casing and having one end projecting beyond one of the bearings, a signaling arrow secured to said shaft and overlying the disk, shaft operating means within the casing, a disk having notches in its edge and secured to said shaft and located within the interior of the casing, a lug formed on the inner side of one of said opposed walls of the casing, a pin movable in said lug for an engagement with one of said notches to hold the arrow in the position to which it has been moved to indicate direction indicating charactersupon the disk, and a spring carried by said lug and engaging said pin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 100 in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. soonwnv.

Witnesses:

LOUIS G. KU'BTZEBORN,

P UL N. GRETHER. 

